Nervous for NASS

Just found out this week that I've been accepted for NASS session 2, and now I'm scared. I'm not in fantastic shape, I only just joined the track team, and I'm not excellent at sports either. Will I be a total outcast for not being very fit? What if I fail the CFA? I'm thrilled to get in but now I've gotten really worried about my level of physical fitness.

It isn't that bad. You can really put yourself at a big advantage if you work hard between now and then and ace the fitness test while at NASS. My DD didn't train at all (because she was pretty active with her sports and didn't realize there would be a test at the end). Anyway, she did ok but I think by not doing super well she hurt her chances.

I've never attended SS, but I'm a total health nut so I can just attest for the fitness stuff-- just start training and getting in shape now. Don't delay. The sooner you start the more progress you can make, and trust me, you'll thank yourself for it. No reason dwelling on what you could have been doing, instead just go out and do it. Good luck and I hope you have a great time this summer!

Brooke, just get started and improve as much as you can between now and then. If you don't like the score you get at NASS, I'm pretty sure you can take it later, allowing you several more months to get where you want to be. Maybe you could get a book like "You Are Your Own Gym" that focuses on strength training. Also, work your way into running.

If you can't do regular push-ups yet, you could start by using a step, chair, table, or even a wall and doing push-ups with your hands elevated. Then lower the elevation as you get stronger. Soon, you'll be able to do them on the floor. When you hit failure on the floor, add in a few more with your hands elevated. If they get easy on the floor, you can make them harder by elevating your feet.

Start working on the running by warming up with a fast walk, running what you can, then switching back to walking when you have to. Alternate until you've met your mileage goal. Try to run farther without walking each time. Pretty soon, you'll be able to meet your mileage goal without walking.

I talked about how to work on pull-ups on the other NASS thread if you need a plan to reach that goal.

Start at it now. Get a decent pair of running shoes and work your way up to longer distances. Really work on strength. It won't make you a total outcast if you aren't in great shape and if you fail the CFA it isn't the end of the world because you can take it again. The reason that starting now is really important is that you want a good baseline if you plan on coming here. It will make Plebe Summer much easier. That and the atmosphere at USNA is very much geared towards physical fitness so that will be one less thing you'll have to adjust to when the AC year comes.